Augusta Chronicle Editorial Staff
Conventional left wing wisdom holds that the Nov. 4 election wasn't just a rejection of President Bush, John McCain or the Republican Party "brand," but of conservatism itself.
Liberal columnist Eugene Robinson made that argument in a Chronicle op-ed piece last Wednesday, contending that America is "turning left" and is no longer a "center-right nation." He's dreaming. Democrats did so well because of the tottering economy and impatience with the Iraq war.
Culturally, most Americans are still very conservative. They believe in God, personal responsibility, religious symbols on public property, voluntary school prayers, the right to bear arms, law and order, stiff punishment of criminals and curbs on Internet and TV smut.
Even Robinson's fellow African Americans, who turned out so heavily for Barack Obama, voted against same sex marriage ballot propositions by 70 percent. That's not repudiating conservatism.
South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford has it right. He pointed out at the GOP Governors' Conference last week that voters turned down Republicans, not conservatism.
"Republicans have campaigned on the conservative themes of lower taxes, less government and more freedom," he said. "They just haven't governed that way. America didn't turn away from conservatism, they turned away from many who faked it."
Indeed, many Republicans campaigned as conservatives and governed like Big Government liberals -- not only in Washington, but in many of the states they controlled too. Sanford noted that in recent years state governments have grown faster and fatter than the federal government.
Did Republicans think voters were so dumb that they wouldn't see the hypocrisy between what they said and what they did? Besides, it's suicide to try to win elections by out-promising Democrats on handing out public largesse.
"So during our 'time in the wilderness,' it's my hope that we go back to the basics of conservatism," said Sanford, "what it stands for and its real-world implications for people's lives. The sooner we do, the sooner we will see good policy from Republicans, and the sooner I suspect we will return to electoral favor."
In short, Republicans must start practicing what they preach. Moreover, they must not let themselves fall into the trap of becoming a "cult of personality" party in order to please the TV gods who always prefer personality over substance. They did that with Ronald Reagan, but it's worn off. Democrats did it with Bill Clinton, and it wore off too. Eventually, even Barack Obama will wear off. So Republicans must guard against glomming on to the first pretty face that comes along.
Sanford's on the right track. And though he wouldn't admit it, he may be looking to get on track to the presidency himself after his term expires in 2010. And if he does, you can be sure he'll express the need for his party to get back to basics. Campaign on principles -- conservative ideas that are true to the Constitution and our Founders' vision. What the party needs in the years ahead are leaders with vision and substance built on a solid conservative base.
